Ignition is Frantic Assembly's FREE nationwide talent development programme for young people aged 16 - 24. AND YOU ARE INVITED!
Working with 13 regional partners, Ignition sets out to find people with the potential to work in the Arts, opening doors and making them feel their presence is welcome.
No experience is necessary, and we particularly look for young people who have little or no previous involvement with theatre or the arts.
Throughout September and October, we travel across the UK to deliver Trial workshops. Visiting theatre and non-theatre spaces, these workshops are created for young people with little or no experience of theatre, who face barriers accessing the Arts, and may never have considered a pathway in the industry possible. Ignition tells them they can be part of it and that their voice is not only welcome, but needed. The programme culminates in five days of training and devising with Frantic, in London, producing original shows for a public audience.
WHAT IS A TRIAL?
A workshop to further understand and explore Frantic’s distinct approach to devising theatre.
WHAT IS THE INTENSIVE?
Selected from the trials, 24 participants will join each other for a week in London. Guided by Frantic Assembly, they will create two original performances for a public audience.
All aspects of the Intensive (travel to London, accommodation, and food) are paid for by Frantic Assembly, thereby removing financial barriers to participation.
For those that take part in the Ignition intensive, we offer a year-round access programme that continues to develop, mentor, and signpost training and career opportunities with Frantic Assembly and their partners, throughout the UK.
Sign-ups open Mon 10 Aug 2026, 9am and close Thurs 10 Sep 2026, 9pm
Sheffield Theatres are looking for a Making Room Observer to join the company of Twelfth Night.
Making Room Observer opportunities are for aspiring and early-career theatre creatives based locally to Sheffield Theatres who want to familiarise with professional rehearsal practice.
Making Room Observers are invited to observe one day each week of rehearsal, and two days of technical rehearsals. Making Room Observers are also invited to attend a preview performance and opening night.
The Making Room Observer for Twelfth Night will receive a £350 fee to support their attendance and observation of the rehearsal process.
The Dukes are looking for up to five theatre makers/creatives to join them as Associate Artists for a period of 18 months. Theatre makers, companies or individuals from an array of artistic discipline. This could include: writers, directors, designers, producers, companies and others that may benefit from this opportunity.
What is the Associate Artist Programme?
Within our Talent Development programme, The Dukes’ ambition is for our venue to be known in the North West as a welcome hub for artists to collaborate and stretch their creative muscles. The Dukes is committed to providing support to our selected Associate Artists, who are at varying stages of their career, with the hopes of establishing a creative, empowered and balanced partnership. We also wish to bring artists together, so they too can expand their working relationships.
The Associate Artist Programme provides support such as:
*please note, The Dukes does not offer commission to artists for this programme
The Dukes also offers advocacy within Venues North and other relevant networks and events.
Application Process:
To apply, please send an expression of interest explaining why you would like to be an Associate Artist (no more than one side of A4) as well as a summary (or CV) of your experience and past work. Please send this to the email below with the subject ‘FAO: Emma Nixon - Associate Artist Application’.
Things to consider for your application:
Deadline for applications: Monday 17th August 2026
For the shortlisted artists, we will be in touch and it's likely you'll be invited to an informal meeting to discuss your work and ideas.
The Open House Project is a 12-week project for 15 care-experienced young people, combining life skills, drama and support, ending in a 4-week run of performances.
The process is holistic, beginning with the development of trust, empathy and foundational life and employment skills. Older members mentor younger ones, as momentum builds into a highly disciplined rehearsal process, co-creating the work alongside a professional creative team.
One-to-one support is provided for twelve months with a focus on bespoke pastoral support, mentoring, strategic planning and pathways into education, employment and training. Once completed, Young People are welcomed into the wider Big House community as members, enabling access to a range of opportunities.
If you or someone you know would be a good fit, contact the email address provided.
Dates: 28th September - 19th December
Hertford Regional College’s Higher Education provision in Performing Arts is designed to provide students with creative performance and management skills to develop themselves as independent artists and theatre-makers in the field of entertainment. The core focus of this course is to train students to produce, manage and sustain original theatrical work at a professional standard. Our facilities meet industry standards, and staff expertise and experience support students to prepare for industry.
Our students consistently demonstrate industry standard performances, underpinned by high attendance, leading to strong outcomes. This level 6 top-up year enables students to achieve a full BA Hons degree, providing them with a clear line of sight to employment.
This Level 6 provision has been produced in close collaboration with our partners and subject specialists at the University of Hertfordshire. The course develops students’ skills through technique classes, historical context lectures, application in rehearsal and performance, independent study, and reflective practice. Definitive module documents have been developed and refined to create a world class educational experience for our students’ Level 6 year.
Theatre and the arts have had a positive impact on the national economy and according to the Arts Council in 2018 ‘the arts and culture industry grew £390 million in a year and contributed £10.8 billion a year to the UK economy. The sector contributes £2.8 billion a year to the Treasury via taxation and generates a further £23 billion a year and 363,700 jobs.’ The report also states that 30% of this figure is combined arts and a direct 25% of this figure is theatre. Despite the pandemic affecting all industries in recent years, according to UK Theatre and Society of London Theatres ‘The theatre sector is normally responsible for directly and indirectly generating approximately £1 billion per annum in VAT revenue for HM Treasury, not including additional revenue in the form of PAYE and NI contributions. It will therefore play a vital part in the nation’s recovery.’ The arts have been supported during the time of the pandemic through the cultural support fund with the government recognising the importance and continued importance this industry has for the UK economy.
What will I be doing?
The programme consists of three modules: Advanced Character Performance, Planning New Theatrical Work & Creative Project.
Advanced Character Performance: This module enables students to critically analyse and interpret research to create a character through a devising process of original performance material informed by research. Students will perform original material in character, making choices in response to the character’s world. At the end of the module students will apply a critical self-reflection using reflective writing tools on planning, process, and product.
Planning New Theatrical Work: This module enables students to develop their own creative vision and investigate funding streams, audience markets and statutory requirements for producing and performing theatrical work.
Creative Project: This module enables students to work collaboratively to create a new original performance. Using skills and knowledge gained in previous modules students will work to create a new full-scale production. Students will explore and implement the cornerstones of performance creation.
Successful completion of:
In addition you will also need:
If you do not have the above grades in maths and English we will expect you to enrol in adult classes at the college.
Entry to this programme will also be determined by a self-tape audition submitted via an online platform.
We also welcome applicants with industry experience and will require a self-tape audition and portfolio of work.
How to Apply?
Applications are via UCAS to the University of Hertfordshire. Please use the below codes:
Almeida For Free is an exciting festival for people aged 25 and under.
Running alongside their productions, the festival gives young people the chance to see the productions for free, and to also take part in workshops, panel discussions and masterclasses that cover everything from acting and writing, to theatre-making and design.
It is a celebration of young people’s creativity that takes over the whole theatre and aims to give an insight into the way shows are created at the Almeida.
A Paid Residency Opportunity for Early-Career Artists in Bristol
Creative Futures is offering 4 early-career artists a £500 commission & a 3-month residency each to develop new art, music, sound &/or performance works. Creative Youth Network will provide commissioned artists with a structure of support, mentoring, artist-to-artist creative exchange & workshops to develop their creative practices, producing skills, professional networks, and artistic community - ending with a public showcase of the commissioned artist’s works at The Courts in Bristol’s city centre.
The residency runs from Tues 6th Oct 2026 - Tues 26th Jan 2027. Commissioned artists will receive:
We are looking for artists working across all creative disciplines, with two of the four places will be reserved for musicians and sound artists.
Back for its second year, the Young Associates programme is an exciting opportunity for emerging performers aged 18–26 to explore a broad range of creative roles across theatre and live events.
From September 2026 – May 2027, the programme connects young creatives with industry professionals to develop skills in creative management, writing, directing, production, and collaborative projects, while offering mentorship from peer mentors.
As part of the application process, auditions will be led by acclaimed theatre director Philip J Morris, giving applicants the opportunity to showcase their creativity in front of an experienced industry professional.
Start date: Thursday 24 September 2026
Sessions: Thursdays, 7pm – 9pm
Term 1 (Sept–Dec): Curating Your Own Work
Term 2 (Jan–Feb): Creative Management
Term 3 (Mar–May): Showcasing Skills
Young Associates get free tickets to shows at Brixton House, weekly mentorship and industry insight, workshops and masterclasses, and hands-on experience in festivals and events.
Applications are now open for the HAC Young Creatives Programme 2026-27! An exciting opportunity for young adults aged 19-26 to gain free creative industry skills.
What's on Offer:
The HAC Young Creatives Programme aims to develop the skills and talents of young people looking to begin careers in the theatre industry. The course is designed to develop your individual creative practice, and work together as an ensemble to create a professional production.
Term 1:
Term 2:
The course will take place on Thursday evenings (term time) between September 2026 - April 2027, with an intensive showcase rehearsal week from 22nd - 25th March 2027.
Content has been designed to develop your creative skills and your practical knowledge so you’re ready to go out into the industry and take the limelight. What’s more, you’ll meet like-minded creative enthusiasts and become part of a supportive and inspiring artistic community.
To apply, please fill out the application form at the base of this page. If you'd prefer to send your answers to us in video format, please send to participation@harrowarts.com with the subject line 'Young Creatives Application'.
Turtle Key Arts are excited to launch the Joy Artist Development Programme, a new development opportunity for disabled artists as part of Joy Festival 2026.
The Joy Artist Development Programme will support four emerging disabled artists in developing their professional artistic career and practice. The programme will offer 4 artists a programme of 1:1 mentoring, networking, professional seminars with leading disability arts organisations, plus rehearsal time culminating in a performance slot during the Joy Festival Studio performance week in October.
Please read the full information on the programme before applying. All the information can be found on their website including the information pack (full PDF, word & BSL versions)
Key information
Applications open: Friday 17 July, 10am
Applications close: Monday 17 August, 10am
Informal chats/interviews: w/c 17 August, by arrangement*
Programme start date: 4 September 2026
*Please note we will offer to have short, informal conversations with candidates whose applications we would like to know more about. You may be accepted onto the programme without a chat with the team, or we may invite you to talk to us about your idea if we feel we need further clarification.
How to apply
You can apply to the Artist Development Programme via their online application, or submit a word document via email.
